Game pieces and game

ABSTRACT

Disclosed herein are two aspects of the present invention, firstly, a game piece and secondly, a game that may be played using such a game piece. Game pieces of the present invention are configured from material that is stable in two states that have different shapes so as to snap when transforming form one state to the other, and therefore may be referred to as “snaps”. A graphic image may be depicted on the game piece, such that game pieces may be collected and traded to acquire a variety of different graphic images. An object of the game is to throw a game piece onto a stack of a plurality of such game pieces in a attempt of cause a change in the stable state of as many game pieces as possible.

FIELD AND BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present invention relates to a child's game wherein an objectis to collect as many game pieces as possible especially through featsof manual dexterity, and, in particular, it concerns game pieces forsuch a game and game rules for use thereof.

[0002] In recent years, games concerning the so-called “pog” have becomepopular. This child's game consists of a large number of stiff cardboarddiscs each bearing on one surface thereof a pattern or picture. A verylarge number of different patterns or pictures is available so that, onaverage, a child would have to collect quite a large number of pogsbefore collecting two pogs bearing the same pattern or picture thereon.Thus, an object of the game is to collect as many different patterns orpictures as possible.

[0003] Pogs also form part of children's games that extend beyond themere collection of different patterns or pictures. These game generallycenter on some form of manual dexterity such as: dropping pogs fromdifferent heights, each child taking a turn and each successive childattempting to aim his pog so as to fall on the pog of his predecessor;pogs can be thrown, the playing partner who manages to throw his pog thefurthest claiming all of the other players' pogs as well; and mostcommonly, each player contributing pogs to a stack, and each play takingturns striking the top of the stack, usually by throwing, with animplement, usually another pog, in an attempt to up turn as many pogsfrom the stack as possible, and claiming those for himself.

[0004] Pogs, as they are currently known, suffer from several drawbacks.Of most concern herein is the cross-section, which is substantiallyrectangular so that each pog, when laid on top of another, rests thereonwith its lower surface in planar contact therewith. Consequently, thereis no natural tendency for an individual pog to up-turn consequent to ablow being applied to an edge thereof. Moreover, they are apt to slideone on top of the other when stacked together. Thus, pogs are notparticularly well suited for games of the kind where playing pieces arestacked one on top of the other, since doing so would nevertheless alloweach pog to slide relative to its neighbor.

[0005] Such a drawback would be overcome by applying some kind of recessor internal depression to each pog as suggested in U.S. Pat. No.5,624,121 to Stern. Stern discloses a child's game that includes aplurality of substantially rigid playing discs each having an upper andlower surface bound by a circumferential ridge which is up-raised withrespect to the lower and the upper surface so as to provide a recess inthe upper surface for accommodating therein a corresponding protrusionin the lower surface of an adjacent playing disc placed thereon. WhileStern's pog may facilitate stacking and over turning during play, theshape of the pog remains unchanged and does not augment the over turningprocess.

[0006] There is therefore a need for a game piece that, when acted uponby a player, changes shape, and any such game piece may used as aninstrument to affect the change of shape. Such change of shape mayfurther serve to augment an over turning or change of position of thegame piece. It would be desirable for the game piece to include agraphic on at least one side. It would be further desirable to includerules for at least one game that may be played with the game piece or aplurality of game pieces.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0007] The present invention is game pieces for a child's game and gamerules for use thereof.

[0008] According to the teachings of the present invention there isprovided, a game piece comprising a substantially rectangular shapedpiece of material having a length and a width, the material configuredso as to be stable in a first state in which a cross-section taken alongthe length is straight, the material also being stable in a second statein which a cross-section taken along the length is arched, the materialbeing elastically deformable such that the material may be elasticallydeformed so as to transform between the first and the second states.

[0009] According to a further teaching of the present invention, a ratioof width to length of the substantially rectangular piece of material isin a range form 1:1.5 to 1:6.

[0010] According to a further teaching of the present invention, athickness of the substantially rectangular piece of material is in arange of between 0.1 mm-1.0 mm.

[0011] According to a further teaching of the present invention, thesecond state has a cross-section taken along the length that is archedsuch that the arch turns through an angle of no more than 180 degrees.

[0012] According to a further teaching of the present invention, thefirst state has a cross-section taken along the width that is arched.

[0013] According to a further teaching of the present invention, thesecond state has a cross-section taken along the width that is straight.

[0014] According to a further teaching of the present invention, thesubstantially rectangular shaped piece of material is configured suchthat the transformation between the first and second states isaccomplished by deforming an arched cross-section to a straightcross-section.

[0015] According to a further teaching of the present invention, thesubstantially rectangular shaped piece of material is configured suchthat the transformation from the first state to the second state isinitiated by the deforming of the material at substantially any pointalong the length of the game piece.

[0016] According to a further teaching of the present invention, atleast one surface of the game piece includes a visual image.

[0017] According to a further teaching of the present invention, thevisual image applied directly to the game piece

[0018] According to a further teaching of the present invention, thevisual image is applied to a material which is then affixed to the gamepiece.

[0019] According to a further teaching of the present invention, thematerial is chosen from the group including steel and plastic.

[0020] According to a further teaching of the present invention, thesubstantially rectangular shape further comprises at least one curvedend section.

[0021] There is also provided according to the teachings of the presentinvention, a method of playing a game comprising; (a) providing at leastone game piece configured as a substantially rectangular shaped piece ofmaterial having a length and a width, the material configured so as tobe stable in a first state in which a cross-section taken along thelength is straight, the material also being stable in a second state inwhich a cross-section taken along the length is arched, the materialbeing elastically deformable such that the material may be elasticallydeformed so as to transform between the first and the second states; and(b) throwing the game piece while the game piece is in the first state,so as to impact a surface thereby causing the transformation from thefirst state to the second state.

[0022] According to a further teaching of the present invention, thereis also provided, catching the game piece upon rebound

[0023] According to a further teaching of the present invention, the atleast one game piece is implemented as at least two game pieces for eachof a plurality of game players.

[0024] According to a further teaching of the present invention, thereis also provided, each of the game players contributing at least a firstthe game pieces so as to form a stack of the game pieces configured on aplaying surface, all of the game piece deployed in the stack beingdeployed in the first state with a convex side facing upwards.

[0025] According to a further teaching of the present invention, thereis also provided each of the players taking a turn throwing a secondgame piece at the stack of game pieces.

[0026] According to a further teaching of the present invention, thereis also provided, responding to the throw by one of a group of responsesincluding: (a) the second game piece striking at least a portion of thestack of game pieces, thereby causing a number of the game pieces in thestack to transform from the first state to the second state, the secondgame piece rebounding off the stack, the game player catching the secondgame piece, whereupon the game player claims the transformed gamepieces; (b) the second game piece striking at least a portion of thestack of game pieces, thereby causing a number of the game pieces in thestack to transform from the first state to the second state, the secondgame piece rebounding off the stack, the game player failing to catchthe second game piece, thereupon returning transformed game pieces tothe stack and adding the second game piece to the stack; (c) the secondgame piece failing to cause the transformation of any the game pieces inthe stack, the game player catching the second game piece upon reboundthereby keeping the second game piece; and (d) the second game piecefailing to cause the transformation of any the game pieces in the stack,the game player failing to catch the second game piece upon rebound,thereupon the second game piece being added to the stack.

[0027] According to a further teaching of the present invention, thereis also provided, continuing play, each player using one of a listincluding: the second game piece, a third game piece, a forth game, andany number on new game pieces as is necessary to continue play.

[0028] According to a further teaching of the present invention, thereis also provided, determining a winner by one of a group including: (a)all the game pieces on the playing surface being claimed, the playerhaving claimed the most the game pieces during play being declared thewinner; and (b) a number of the game pieces remaining in the stack, yetall the players agree to end play, thereupon each the game playersretrieving any of the game player's own the games pieces contributed tothe stack during play that still remain in the stack, the player havingclaimed the most the game pieces during play being declared the winner.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0029] The invention is herein described, by way of example only, withreference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

[0030]FIG. 1 is a top elevation of a preferred embodiment of a snap gamepiece constructed and operative according to the teachings of thepresent invention;

[0031]FIG. 1a is a side elevation of the embodiment of FIG. 1;

[0032]FIG. 2 is an illustration of the embodiment of FIG. 1 showing thesnap in the first stable state with the convex side up and thecorresponding shape of the snap in the second stable state, according tothe teachings of the present invention;

[0033]FIG. 2a is a schematic showing corresponding cross-sectional viewsof the snap in each of the stable states of FIG. 2;

[0034]FIG. 3 is an illustration of the embodiment of FIG. 1 showing thesnap in the first stable state with the concave side up and thecorresponding shape of the snap in the second stable state;

[0035]FIG. 3a is a schematic showing corresponding cross-sectional viewsof the snap in each of the stable states of FIG. 3

[0036] FIGS. 4-7 are a series of illustrations showing a preferredmanner of throwing the snap embodiment of FIG. 1;

[0037]FIG. 8 is a schematic of a thrown snap impacting a stationarysnap;

[0038]FIG. 9 is an illustration showing the transformation of the thrownsnap of FIG. 8 to the second stable state;

[0039]FIG. 10 is an illustration showing the transformation thestationary snap of FIG. 8 to the second stable state;

[0040]FIGS. 11 and 12 are non-limiting illustrations of a graphic imageson, according to the teachings of the present invention; and

[0041]FIGS. 13 and 14 are schematic illustrations of alternative stackarrangements.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0042] The present invention is game pieces for a child's game and gamerules for use thereof.

[0043] The principles and operation of game pieces for a child's gameand games rules for use thereof according to the present invention maybe better understood with reference to the drawings and the accompanyingdescription.

[0044] By way of introduction, the discussion herein includes twoaspects of the present invention, firstly a game piece constructed andoperative according to the present invention, which will be discussedwith regard to FIGS. 1-3 a. Secondly, a game that may be played usingsuch a game piece will be discussed with regard to FIGS. 4-14.

[0045] A game piece of the present invention (generally referred to inthe Figures as 2) is configured from material that is stable in twostates that have different shapes. That is to say, the material isbi-stable in two states, each of which assumes a different shape suchthat the game piece “snaps” when transforming from one state to theother, therefore game pieces of the present invention may be referred toas “snaps,” and are thusly referred to herein for brevity.

[0046]FIG. 1 illustrates the dimensions of a snaps game piece of thepresent invention, which preferably has a width 20 to length 22 rationof about 1:2.2, although any ratio of width to length within the rangeof 1:1.5-6, for example, that renders the necessary gaming attributes,as discussed below, is with in the scope of the present invention. Thatis, by non-limiting example, a snap that is 2.5 cm wide will besubstantially 5.5 cm long and a 3 cm wide snap will be substantially 6.6cm long. The end sections 24 and 24′ of the snap may be curved asillustrated in the non-limiting example discussed herein, however thisneed not always be the case. The thickness 26 of a snap may range, bynon-limiting example, between 0.1-1.0 mm, preferably between 0.1-0.4 mm.It should be noted that the term “thickness” as used herein refers tothe thickness of the game piece element non-inclusive of any additionmaterial used to add a graphic image to the snap. Further, the thicknessof the snap may be the result of a single piece of material or aplurality of pieces of material used together to form a single gamepiece.

[0047] As illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3, snaps game pieces constructedand operative according to the teachings of the present invention, areconfigured from a material that is elastically deformable. Thisdeformation is such that the material may be elastically deformed so asto transform between the first and second stable states. When in a firststable state 4 the snap 2 has a cross-section 10 taken along the length22 of the snap that is straight and a cross-section 6 taken along thewidth 20 of the snap that is arched. In a second stable state 8, thesnap 2 has a cross-section 10 taken along the length 22 of the snap thatis arched and a cross-section 6 taken along the width 20 of the snapthat is straight. That is to say, each side of the snap is convex in onestate and concave in the other state. A transformation of state from onestable state to the other stable state is initiated by forcing thearched cross-section of the current stable state to become substantiallystraight, whereupon the heretofore straight cross-section “snaps” intothe ached shape of the new stable state. That is, in order to affect thetransformation of the snap from the first stable state 4 to the secondstable state 8, the arched cross-sectional contour 6 of the snap may bebrought to a straight alignment 10 at substantially any point along thelength of the snap. An example of a suitable material is resilientcoiling spring steel such as is used for the toy known as a “slapbracelet.” The game pieces of the present invention, however, may beconfigured from any suitable metal, plastic, or other springysubstantially rigid material.

[0048] Snaps may further include a graphic image, FIGS. 11 and 12,affixed to the game piece. The graphic image may be a design, drawing,company logo, or photo, such that snaps may be collected and traded soas to acquire a variety of graphic images. The graphic image may beprinted or painted directly to the material of the game piece, or thegraphic image may by first printed or painted on a cover that is affixedto the game piece. The cover material may be, by non-limiting example,of paper, plastic, or metal foil. The non-limiting example of a graphicimage illustrated in FIGS. 11 and 12, shows the name snaps on theconcave side, FIG. 12, and a depiction of a fantasy character on theconvex side, FIG. 11.

[0049] Turning now to a game that may be play using snaps game pieces,as shown in FIGS. 4-10. This game may be played by any number ofplayers, preferably between 2-8. Each player begins with at least twosnaps, preferably more. Each player contributes one, for example, of hissnaps 2 to a stack 30 that is formed on a playing surface, usually, bynon-limiting example, a floor or tabletop. The snaps in the stack 30 aredeployed in the first stable state. A starting player is determined byany method known and play continues in a circular pattern, usuallyclockwise. It should be noted that the term “stack” as it is usedherein, refers to any arrangement of snaps in a group within an area ofplay, and is intended to include snaps being placed one on top ofanother (FIG. 13); snaps being placed on the same surface (FIG. 14) soas to not touch, abut one anther, overlap one another and anycombination thereof; and snaps being arranged in an combination of theabove.

[0050] In turn, each player takes one of his other snaps 32, alsodeployed in the first stable state, and throws it at the stack 30 ofsnaps on the playing surface. An object of this game is to throw thesnap 32 in such a fashion that impact on the stack 30 or the playingsurface (FIG. 8) will cause the snap 32 to abruptly change from thefirst stable state to the second stable state (FIG. 9). That is, to“snap” from a substantially flat configuration to an archedconfiguration, so as to augment the rebound of the snap.

[0051] A suggested preferred manner of throwing the snap is to hold thesnap in the palm 34 of the hand 36, convex side proximal to the hand(FIG. 4). The snap should be resting against the fingers 38 so as to besubstantially parallel to the fingers with the thumb 40 pressing againstthe snap 32 so as to hold it firmly in place (FIG. 5). While bring thehand down toward the playing surface (FIG. 6), rotate the hand such thatthe palm is facing toward the playing surface (FIG. 7), and release thesnap so as to so as to impact, preferably, the stack 30 or,alternatively, the playing at an angle to the plane of the playingsurface, as illustrated in FIG. 8. An object of this game is to affect achange in state of the snap being thrown so as to cause the game pieceto “snap” from the first stable state, in which the snap 32 is thrown,to the second stable state, which augments the rebound of the snap 32,thus aiding the player's attempt to catch the rebounding snap 32. It isa further object of this game is to affect a change is state of as manysnaps 2 in the stack 30 as possible. The force of impact of the thrownsnap 32 onto the snaps 2 in the stack, when applied substantially at anangle, as illustrated by non-limiting example in FIG. 8, tends to have agreater effect on the snaps 2 in the stack 30.

[0052] Following are possible outcomes of the throw.

[0053] 1—The thrown snap strikes the stack of snaps, thereby causing anumber of the snaps in the stack to change from the first state to thesecond state, the thrown snap rebounds off the stack, whereupon theplayer catches the thrown snap. The player then claims the snaps fromthe stack that have changed to the second state.

[0054] 2—The thrown snap strikes the stack of snaps, thereby causing anumber of the snaps in the stack to change from the first state to thesecond state, the thrown snap rebounds off the stack, whereupon theplayer fails to catch the second snap. Any snaps that have changed tothe second state are returned to the first state and placed on thestack, including the thrown snap.

[0055] 3—The thrown snap fails to cause any the snaps in the stack tochange state, whether the thrown snap hit the stack or not, yetrebounds, whereupon the player catches the thrown snap thereby keepingthe thrown snap.

[0056] 4—The thrown snap fails to cause any the snaps in the stack tochange state, and the player fails to catch the thrown snap uponrebound, whereupon the thrown snap is added to the stack.

[0057] Play continues with each player using one of his available snaps.A winner is declared when all the snaps on the playing surface havingbeen claimed, the player having claimed the most snaps being declaredthe winner. Alternatively, a number of the snaps may remain in thestack, yet all the players agree to end play, whereupon each the playersretrieves any the snaps that he contributed to the stack which stillremain in the stack. The player having claimed the most the snaps duringplay is declared the winner. If during the course of play a player runsout of snaps, he is “out” of the game.

[0058] It should be understood that any number of games may be devisedusing the game piece of the present invention, and the game of thepresent invention described herein is not intended to limit the gamepiece of the present invention.

[0059] It will be appreciated that the above descriptions are intendedonly to serve as examples, and that many other embodiments are possiblewithin the spirit and the scope of the present invention.

What is claimed is:
 1. A game piece comprising a substantiallyrectangular shaped piece of material having a length and a width, saidmaterial configured so as to be stable in a first state in which across-section taken along said length is straight, said material alsobeing stable in a second state in which a cross-section taken along saidlength is arched, said material being elastically deformable such thatsaid material may be elastically deformed so as to transform betweensaid first and said second states.
 2. The game piece of claim 1, whereina ratio of width to length of said substantially rectangular piece ofmaterial is in a range from 1:1.5 to 1:6.
 3. The game piece of claim 2,wherein a thickness of said substantially rectangular piece of materialis in a range of between 0.1 mm-1.0 mm.
 4. The game piece of claim 1,wherein said second state has a cross-section taken along said lengththat is arched such that said arch turns through an angle of no morethan 180 degrees.
 5. The game piece of claim 1, wherein said first statehas a cross-section taken along said width that is arched.
 6. The gamepiece of claim 5, wherein said second state has a cross-section takenalong said width that is straight.
 7. The game piece of claim 6, whereinsaid substantially rectangular shaped piece of material is configuredsuch that said transformation between said first and second states isaccomplished by deforming an arched cross-section to a straightcross-section.
 8. The game piece of claim 7, wherein said substantiallyrectangular shaped piece of material is configured such that saidtransformation from said first state to said second state is initiatedby said deforming of said material at substantially any point along saidlength of the game piece.
 9. The game piece of claim 1, wherein at leastone surface of the game piece includes a visual image.
 10. The gamepiece of claim 9, wherein said visual image is applied directly to thegame piece.
 11. The game piece of claim 9, wherein said visual image isapplied to a material which is then affixed to the game piece.
 12. Thegame piece of claim 1, wherein said material is chosen from the groupincluding steel and plastic.
 13. The game piece of claim 1, wherein saidsubstantially rectangular shape further comprises at least one curvedend section.
 14. A method of playing a game comprising; (a) providing atleast one game piece configured as a substantially rectangular shapedpiece of material having a length and a width, said material configuredso as to be stable in a first state in which a cross-section taken alongsaid length is straight, said material also being stable in a secondstate in which a cross-section taken along said length is arched, saidmaterial being elastically deformable such that said material may beelastically deformed so as to transform between said first and saidsecond states; and (b) throwing said game piece while said game piece isin said first state, so as to impact a surface thereby causing saidtransformation from said first state to said second state.
 15. Themethod of claim 14, further including catching said game piece uponrebound.
 16. The method of claim 15, wherein said at least one gamepiece is implemented as at least two game pieces for each of a pluralityof game players.
 17. The method of claim 16, further comprising each ofsaid game players contributing at least a first said game pieces so asto form a stack of said game pieces configured on a playing surface, allof said game piece deployed in said stack being deployed in said firststate with a convex side facing upwards.
 18. The method of claim 17,further comprising each of the players taking a turn throwing a secondgame piece at said stack of game pieces.
 19. The method of claim 18,further comprising responding to said throw by one of a group ofresponses including: (a) said second game piece striking at least aportion of said stack of game pieces, thereby causing a number of saidgame pieces in said stack to transform from said first state to saidsecond state, said second game piece rebounding off said stack, saidgame player catching said second game piece, whereupon said game playerclaims said transformed game pieces; (b) said second game piece strikingat least a portion of said stack of game pieces, thereby causing anumber of said game pieces in said stack to transform from said firststate to said second state, said second game piece rebounding off saidstack, said game player failing to catch said second game piece,thereupon returning transformed game pieces to said stack and addingsaid second game piece to said stack; (c) said second game piece failingto cause said transformation of any said game pieces in said stack, saidgame player catching said second game piece upon rebound thereby keepingsaid second game piece; and (d) said second game piece failing to causesaid transformation of any said game pieces in said stack, said gameplayer failing to catch said second game piece upon rebound, thereuponsaid second game piece being added to said stack.
 20. The method ofclaim 19, further comprising continuing play, each player using one of alist including: said second game piece, a third game piece, a forthgame, and any number on new game pieces as is necessary to continueplay.
 21. The method of claim 20, further comprising determining awinner by one of a group including: (a) all said game pieces on saidplaying surface being claimed, the player having claimed the most saidgame pieces during play being declared the winner; and (b) a number ofsaid game pieces remaining in said stack, yet all the players agree toend play, thereupon each said game players retrieving any of said gameplayer's own said games pieces contributed to said stack during playthat still remain in said stack, the player having claimed the most saidgame pieces during play being declared the winner.